Mazza, Ponte Vedra power past Palatka

Run the ball and play physical has been the mantra all year for Ponte Vedra.

The formula worked again in a 31-14 defeat of Palatka Friday night.

The Sharks only threw the ball four times in the contest, running the ball on nearly every down and chewing up large amounts of clock.

Cole Mazza had his sixth 100-plus yard rushing night of the season for the Sharks. In fact he had a 200-plus yard night (223 yards on 35 carries), which made up for the one game where he failed to rush for 100 yards (the season opener against Orange Park). He also had two touchdowns.

Two other Ponte Vedra players had over 40 yards rushing: Sam Feidler (43 yards on six carries with a touchdown) and Reece Andrews (45 yards on nine carries).

“Palatka is a very explosive team and we wanted to keep them off the field,” said Sharks head coach Mike Loyd. “I don’t ever recall a game where we only passed two completions and didn’t punt.”

“Cole ran hard and may have got the school rushing record,” Loyd continued, “and our other backs Reece and Sammy did a great job too. But honestly we don’t care so much about getting a record as we do getting a win.”

The game was closer than the score would indicate.

Though Palatka only got the ball a little more than once a quarter, the Panthers were able to move it down the field.

Palatka even took the first lead of the game when Jaquile Melton took the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to go up 7-0.

Ponte Vedra answered the Melton score with a 7-yard rushing touchdown from Feidler, knotting the score at seven and capping an 80-yard, eight minute drive.

The Panthers took the ensuing kickoff deep into Ponte Vedra territory again, and got down to the Sharks 5-yard line when quarterback De Abrie Smith scrambled for 25 yards on the first play from scrimmage.

Unfortunately for Palatka, Panther running back JJ Anderson fumbled the ball on the next play and Ponte Vedra recovered.

The Sharks took the ball 88 yards after the turnover and capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown from Mazza, going up 14-7.

Turnovers would doom the Panthers from there.

On the next series Palatka fumbled the snap at their own 42-yard line. Ponte Vedra converted it into a 23-yard field goal from Connor Federico to go up 17-7.

Palatka took it on their next series and again drove to the Sharks 5-yard line. And again the Panthers would fumble there, this time when Ponte Vedra defensive lineman Tyler Davidson stripped the ball from Palatka fullback Jeremy Faulk.

The Sharks got the ball to start the third quarter and again marched 80-yards down the field, scoring on quarterback Matt Deegan’s 35-yard keeper on fourth down to go up 24-7.

Palatka’s Anderson would answer with a third-quarter touchdown to bring the Panthers back to within 10 points at 24-14, but Mazza sealed the deal for the Sharks on a 15-yard run midway through the final quarter for the final 31-14 margin.